Cotton-chopper



, (No Model.)

ZSheets-Sheet 1. W. J. LEAIRD, W. WMEGGS, G. P. POND & W. D. SEPARK.

COTTON CHOPPER.

No.423,331. Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheefi 2.

W. J. LEAIRD, W. W. MEGGS, G. F. POND & W. D. SEPARK. UOTTON GHOPPER.

No. 423,331. Patented Mar. 11, 1890-.

-UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM J. LEAI'RD, \VILLIAM' W'ESLEY MEGGS, GEORGE FRANKLIN POND, ANDIVILLIS DEANE SEPARK, OF PEACHLAND, NORTH CAROLINA.

COTTON-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,331, dated March11, 1890.

Application filed June 25, 1889. Serial No. 315,534. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM J. LEAIRD, \VILLIAM WnsLnY Mnees, GEORGEFRANK- LIN POND, and WILLIS DEANE SEPARK, citi- Zens of the UnitedStates, residing at Peachland, in the county of Anson and State of NorthCarolina, have invented anew and useful Cotton-Chopper, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton-choppers; and it has for its object toprovide a device of this class which shall be simple in construction,durable, easily operated, and which may be conveniently attached to thebeam of an ordinary plow, so as to be operated in connection with thelatter.

The invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts, which will be hereinafter described, an dparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of ourimproved cottonchopper. tional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view taken on theline m a: in Fig. 2. Fig. at is a rear view.

The same letters refer to the'same parts in all the figures.

A designates a beam, and B the standard, of an ordinary plow, whichlatteris designated by letter C.

D is a block interposed between the beam A and the upper end of thestandard B, for the purpose of spacing the same sufficiently to makeroom for the operating mechanism, as will be presently described.

E E designate the handles, which are secured to the sides of theplO\V"l1)62tIl1,t11Cl which are connected by means of a rung F, passingthrough a brace or bracket G, which extends upwardly from the plow-beamnear the rear end of the latter.

H designates a bracket extending downwardly from the plow-beam andforming a bearing for a short transverse shaft I, the outer end of whichcarries a wheel J, adjacent to and at some distance from the landside ofthe plow. Said wheel is provided on its inner side with a series ofteeth or cogs K. K, adapted to mesh with a pinion L, which is mountedupon a longitudinal shaft M. The rear end of the Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal secshaft M has its hearings in a block or box N, which isprovided with an upwardly-extending bolt 0, passing vertically throughthe beam A and secured by means of a nut P, thereby connecting the saidbox or bearing N pivotally to the rear end of the plow-beam. The frontend of the shaft M is journaled in a box Q, which is arranged to slidetransversely in a recess R in the rear side of the bracket H, a spring Sbeing arranged adjacent to said box to force the latter in the directionof the wheel J, with which the pinion L is thus normally held inengagement. The pivoted box N is provided with an upwardly-extendinghandle T, which may be made to engage any one of a series of recesses UU in the rung F, thereby causing the said pivoted box and the shaft journaled therein to be retained in any position to which it may beadjusted. The rear end of the shaft M is provided with a wheel or diskhaving adjustable arms V V, carrying at their outer ends thechoppinghoes X X, which may be of any suitable construction.

Yis an arm or bracket extending laterally from the beam A toward thewheel or disk J, and bearing against the inner face of the latter, so asto preventit from wabbling.

From the foregoing description, taken in connect-ion with the drawingshereto annexed the operation and advantages of ourinvention will bereadily understood hen the machine passes over the field, the plow willenter the soil and make a furrow along one side of the row of growingplants, and the wheel J will travel on the opposite side of said row,transmitting a rotary motion to the longitudinal shaft M, which carriesthe chopping-hoes, causing the latter to chop or thin out the plants inthe usual manner. lVhen it shall be desired to temporarily suspend theoperation of the chopper, the box N may be swung upon its pivot by meansof its operating-handle, thus disengaging the pinion L from the teeth orcogs upon the wheel J.

It will be observed that owing to the block D, which is interposedbetween the beam A and standard B, the latter are spaced sufliciently toadmit of the free movement of the pinion L. j

The device as an entirety is simple in construction, and it will beobserved that the cotton-chopping device may be readily attached inoperative position to the beam of an ordinary plow Without altering theconstruction of the latter.

' Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the plow, the beam of which is provided With adownwardly-extending bracket having a recess in its rear side, a shaftjournaled transversely in said bracket and carrying the operating wheel,a box mounted pivotally upon the under side of the beam at the rear endof the latter, a shaft j ournaled in said box and having a pinionmeshing with the operating-wheel, the front end of said shaft beingjournaled in a box arranged to slide transversely in the recess in therear side of the bracket depending from the plowbeam, a spring arrangedto bear against the said sliding box, an operating-handle attached tothe pivoted box at the rear end of the plowbeam, and a disk mounted atthe rear end of the longitudinal shaft and carrying the chopping-hoes,substantially as set forth.

2. In a cottonchopping attachment fo plows, the combination of a boxadapted to be attached pivotally to the under side of the plow-beam atthe rear end of the latter, the longitudinal shaft journaled in saidbox'and having at its rear end a disk carrying the chopping-hoes, thefront end of said shaft being journaled in a boX sliding transversely ina bracket depending from the plow-beam, a shaft journaled transverselyin said bracket, an operating-wheel at the outer end of said shaft, anda pinion mounted upon the longitudinal shaft and meshing with saidoperating-Wheel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WVitnesses: C. B. MOORE,

his B. P. MURRY.

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